Yoga?

[sonti]

Who does it?

I am interested in learning yoga as a complement to weight training. I have no idea where to begin. I am so unflexible it's embarrassing. Can't get to a class I'm afraid. Recommended books? Videos?

How has it helped you in the gym?

[Corinna1989]

Who does it?

I am interested in learning yoga as a complement to weight training. I have no idea where to begin. I am so unflexible it's embarrassing. Can't get to a class I'm afraid. Recommended books? Videos?

How has it helped you in the gym?

Just find a beginners class. And don't be afraid! Everyone else in the beginners class will be stiff as well, the point of the beginners class is to create the stability and flexibility. They will start slow, and they always give options for movements and poses that start out easy and as you develop you can move to the harder ones.

If you want to start on your own first you can go to Dick's Sporting Goods, they have packages with a mat and dvd, it's a good start. Another good one is the P90X yoga. I personally haven't used it, but I've heard great things.

I find things like yoga and karate help work muscles you really didn't know you had ie stabilizer muscles for balance and such. And it will help increase your flexibility which is always a plus. ;)

[BboyDong]

Tried a beginner class thinking it would be relatively easy, but yoga is a really hard work out. I definitely felt a lot better after the class though.

[vandalgirl59]

Yoga is definitely harder than it looks. I was shocked the first time I tried it. I was also ridiculously unflexible at the time.

What I did was spend a good couple months just CONSISTENTLY stretching at home for at least 20 min ~ 5x a week (after any workout). It did RIDICULOUSLY AMAZING things for me. I had compression isses in my lower back, and couldn't even sit against a wall at a 90 degree angle...Now I'm freaking gumby woman (*literally have been called this by ppl at the gym hahahha*). Now yoga is more fun because it doesn't HURT, its just a great workout ;)

So long story short, if you're too nervous for a beginner class and dont wanna fuss with dvd's, I'd recommend just working consistently on your flexibility, doing lots of stretching in the comfort of your own home :)

[rockangel]

I do yoga, and love it! (working on becoming certified to teach it)

We have a meditation room in our house so we can practice, the whole family, at home.

It has really helped by strengthening my core. When i started, i was mildly flexible (not stiff but not really flexible either) but now i can do some of the more advanced poses. At the beginning I also couldnt hold planks and such for long, now they barely bother me at all.
And specifically to lifting, it taught me how to "ground" more, so i am more stable and balanced when doing things like squats or dl's.

We have several dvd's (including kids ones) that i enjoy with the family and as a sub when i cant make it to class.

[msbeeblebrox]

I definitely recommend starting out by trying a class. They are relatively easy to find - whether you belong to a gym or not, and can be inexpensive. I think there are a lot of possibilities for injuries during home videos, and a good instructor can be a good introduction to yoga.

I started practicing in December as a way to increase flexibility during strength training. I feel that yoga has had a direct impact on my strength training improvements.

[CrabbyCakes]

Who does it?

I am interested in learning yoga as a complement to weight training. I have no idea where to begin. I am so unflexible it's embarrassing. Can't get to a class I'm afraid. Recommended books? Videos?

How has it helped you in the gym?

I love, love, love yoga. It has done great things for my core, helped with my own ridiculous inflexibility and really strengthened my legs, shoulders, and wrists. I started with a DVD by GAIAM with Patricia Moreno (Cardio Burn Yoga) and it is amazing! The scenery is great, the music is great, and the workout is phenomenal.

Good luck!

[toodlepip]

love, love yoga...has done wonders for my peace of mind, some back issues and I agree with what the others said, it's hard work, or at least, as hard as you want to make it...works abs/core wonderfully too.

This will sound flaky but one way I think it has helped me in the gym is the mental aspect of just 'doing it'. Holding some yoga poses is really tough, so when I'm doing some heavy reps or holding a plank or what have you in the gym I kinda go to that yoga frame of mind and 'release' into it/the pain/the hold/the lift or what have you. That doesn't make sense and probably sounds daft but I'm not sure how else to phrase it.

I subscribe to myyogaonline.com...less than $100 a year, 100s of streaming videos of various styles and levels that you can do at home (I actually do them in a spare office at work during my lunch break sometimes) as many times as you like.

As with lifting, I'd suggest taking the time to go through the boring beginner stuff and learn the poses correctly.

Good luck!

[sonti]

Thank you ladies. I can't go to a class as there is no daycare available out here. Unfortunately no affordable weekend classes either.

I did P90X Yoga X today, well, half of it, and my ass was royally kicked. I've been lifting heavy for so many years and neglecting my flexibility, so I need to make this a regular thing.

[sonti]

We have several dvd's (including kids ones) that i enjoy with the family and as a sub when i cant make it to class.

Can you suggest a decent beginner one?

[InThePocket]

I really value my yoga practice.

It's not just good for making one bendy. it improves balance, coordination, focus, circulation, digestion, etc.

There are some really cool post partum yoga books where you can do yoga with your baby. I've never done them personally.

I like the book Youth, Yoga and Reincarnation by Jess Stern. (available on amazon) You can skip the hippie stuff and go straight to the postures in the back. Very detailed explanations, and several routines. It also talks about the benifits of each series.

[InThePocket]

Can you suggest a decent beginner one?

ALi McGraw has a good one. Check out Rodney Yee, too.

[sonti]

^Thanks I'll go check them out now. I have "The Practical Encyclopedia of Yoga & Pilates" from the library but looking for something else.

[sonti]

I do yoga, and love it! (working on becoming certified to teach it)

We have a meditation room in our house so we can practice, the whole family, at home.


We just bought a new house and it has a solarium, maybe I should explore turning it into something like that :)

[IndyMike]

I started doing yoga a few months ago because I thought it would be a good addition to my lifting and cardio routine. I was mainly interesting on working on my flexibility (mine is awful) and I also have a bad back and shoulder. I didn't think it would be overly difficult, but the first class was pretty rough. It does get easier with time and I do enjoy it quite a bit, I'm even able to do some of the harder poses now. I've definitely noticed more flexibility and go twice a week now. I'd recommend it, even for guys, because it is an engaging workout and who can't use some added flexibility.

[Linds33]

I do yoga, and love it! (working on becoming certified to teach it)

We have a meditation room in our house so we can practice, the whole family, at home.

It has really helped by strengthening my core. When i started, i was mildly flexible (not stiff but not really flexible either) but now i can do some of the more advanced poses. At the beginning I also couldnt hold planks and such for long, now they barely bother me at all.
And specifically to lifting, it taught me how to "ground" more, so i am more stable and balanced when doing things like squats or dl's.

We have several dvd's (including kids ones) that i enjoy with the family and as a sub when i cant make it to class.


I am glad we aren't the only ones with a meditation room in our house! We call ours the "serenity suite" and have decked it out with asian decor, plus use it as a sapce to put our martial arts equipment.

I have been doing Yoga on and off for about 10 years and i LOVE every minute of it. For me it isn't just about the physical aspect but it is also about the meditation and mental health that i get from it. Thus i tend to prefer yoga classes that focus not only on the poses but the meditation and spiritual aspect of it as well.

As for being a beginer, I wouldn't worry about that too much. Everyone has to start somewhere :). The best thing I ever did with yoga was find a small class with a knowledgable yoga teacher. The smaller class is great because the teacher will give you personal attention and will help you if you are doing a pose wrong. Much like weightlifting, if you have incorrect form you can injur yourself so it is very important that you learn the proper form for safety. This is why i like a class environment more then doing DVDs (someone more experienced can correct you and give you tips). In my experience you will get people of all levels in most classes you go to. Not everyone is going to be super flexible. It comes with time :)

Do a search for some local yoga studios in your area and see which ones get the best priced and get good reviews. I was able to fidn a great outdoor yoga class through an outdoors store in my area. The teacher is wonderful, classes are small and outside in pretty areas like rose gardens and parks and the classes are $10. :)

As for how it helps in the gym, it really does build on strength. Plus it helps limit your injury and keeps you flexible which si good for oly lifting!

[toodlepip]

Can you suggest a decent beginner one?



Rodney Yee or Shiva Rea